Steven Victor, MD, founder of Victorceuticals, provided the first day’s keynote address titled, “The Past and the Future of Cosmeceuticals Through the Eyes of a Cosmetic Dermatologist.” He began by discussing the creation of cold cream by a Greek physician in the second century, continuing with the immortalization of cosmetic creams in poetry, the 1903 introduction of Pond’s cold cream that was based on the botanical witch hazel, and winding up with physician-driven brands, today’s botanicals and the future of bio-functional skin care.

The second day’s keynote speaker, Katie Rodan, PhD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, and co-creator of Proactiv Solution and Rodan + Fields Multi-Med Therapy, focused on the lessons learned from her journey as an entrepreneur. Entitled, “The Entrepreneur in You: Bringing Your Beauty Idea to Market,” it clearly presented her message—“Know your competition and differentiate.”

Overall, the conference engaged hot topics: the green movement, Botox, claims and regulations, innovations, new ingredients and technologies and opportunities for new products in the market.